The Piedmont Exedra editorial team is a “Yes” on Measure H.
We are veterans of past local parcel tax campaigns and know firsthand how critical this funding source is to our local schools. Our own children have benefitted from an exceptional education in Piedmont because of the community’s commitment to education, and it is essential that we continue this almost 40-year tradition of local support for the next generation of Highlanders.
That the state of California has failed repeatedly to adequately fund public schools is not news. In the last 20+ years, our local parcel tax has taken on an increasingly critical role, now making up more than 20% of PUSD’s budget. We’ve covered enough PUSD budget presentations to know that the district needs to be able to count on this funding source as it plans for the future; without it, the district will have to make serious cuts to programs and staff.
Measure H is an evergreen tax, but it is not a tax increase — it extends the existing parcel tax with a cost of living adjustment of up to 3% annually.